Flirty (10 page)

All thoughts fled when he released the first button on her dress, then the second and third, exposing the pretty black bra she’d bought last week. When his eyes widened in delight, taking pleasure in the lace material and the way it hugged her breasts, it occurred to her that she liked wearing sexy underthings. Maybe sexy outer things too. They made her feel feminine and sexy and girlie.
Sam
made her feel feminine and sexy and girlie. Yet even in her coveralls, she hadn’t gone unnoticed by him. He was definitely a man who could see things others couldn’t.

With exquisite gentleness, he slipped her dress from her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. He cupped her breasts, and leaned forward to kiss her nipples through the lace. His hair brushed over her flesh, and she pulled in the salty tang of his skin.

Hunger whispered through her blood, and her body rippled, craving this man’s touch in ways that could prove dangerous—to her head and her heart.

With a great deal of tenderness on his face, he picked her up and spread her out on the sheets. His glance moved over her half-naked body as he removed his clothes and pulled a condom from his pocket.

As he climbed over her, her hands skimmed his sinewy muscles. She loved the feel of him on top of her, and more importantly, the weight of his body pinning her to the cot. His mouth took possession of hers and in no time at all she became lost in the moment, the sensations…this man. Everything in the way he touched her, kissed her, felt more intimate than the last time they made love, taking their relationship to a whole new level.

“I can’t get enough of you,” he murmured into her mouth, as her nipples hardened and her body quivered with want.

She grew slick between her legs as he shifted his weight, his fingers dipping beneath her damp panties. “Jesus,” he groaned. “I love how you’re always so ready for me.” He stroked her just right, a soft caress that showed her how aware he was of her body, her needs.

“Sam, please,” she begged, although she wasn’t quite sure what she was begging for.

He inched her panties from her hips and tossed them aside. His eyes flared hot when they met hers, yet the gentleness and warmth lingering in their stormy depths covered her like a soft, protective blanket.

Chaos erupted inside her, her emotions in turmoil as he sheathed himself and entered her, slowly, methodically, giving her only an inch at a time as he drew out his very powerful seduction.

An erotic whimper bubbled in her throat as his strong arms circled her, holding her tight against him as he buried his mouth in her neck and pushed deep inside. Her pussy muscles gripped him hard, and heat poured from her body to his and back again. Pressure began brewing deep in her core, and she couldn’t believe how close she felt to Sam, the emotions he so easily roused in her.

“You feel so fucking good,” he whispered into her ear, and she could hear the need and impatience in his voice.

She moved with him, meeting and welcoming each stroke as his mouth found hers and his hands roamed her body. While his caresses were softer, like he was taking his time to really get to know her body, and his kisses were gentler, this coupling was by no means less powerful than the last. In fact, the intimacy in the slow, easy way he was making love was much more profound, touching her in the deepest of places.

Moisture sealed their bodies together as he sank all the way into her and joined them as one. Her heart swelled and she had a sense that something else was happening between them, and that this union, this sense of belonging she was feeling, went well beyond sex.

With unhurried movements he built her orgasm, taking her higher and higher until pleasure zinged through her and completely overcame her.

“Sam,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around his back to hold him tight. “Oh, God, Sam.”

“I know, sweetheart. I know,” he whispered as their bodies began to ripple, both succumbing to the ecstasy and emotions swirling around them.

As she rode out the waves, their moans of bliss merged, and they both held on to each other like their lives depended on it. His hair brushed over her shoulders as he kissed her neck, his breath hot on her skin. She savored the taste of him on her tongue, and pulled his scent deep into her lungs. God, she loved everything about this man, and the way he made her feel so cherished—like this was where she’d always belonged.

When her body stopped spasming, she lay there beneath him, contentment moving through her veins. She looked past his shoulders, her mind sorting things through as she perused the room, and listened to the waves crash against the sandy shore outside.

“I want to do it,” she said.

Sam pulled out of her, removed the condom, and shifted to face her, a grin curling his lips. His look was playful when he said, “Ah, we just did it sweetheart, but hey, I’m all for doing it again.”

She laughed and whacked him, taking note of this new comfort between them as he rolled onto his back. “I’m talking about the house. I want to restore it using your ideas. Instead of fighting the heritage committee, I want to preserve the features in this home.” She leaned into him and rested her head on his chest. “You were right, you know,” she said as she trailed her fingers over his chest. “You opened my eyes and helped me see that this is what the house was meant to be.” And maybe, just maybe it was time for her to be what she was meant to be, and who she was meant to be too.

When he went quiet, she lifted her chin to see him. Dark eyes regarded her warily, torment on his face. “What?” she asked.

“What about proving yourself to your brothers? Isn’t that what this is all about?”

“It might have started out that way, but I think my priorities are changing.”

Sam opened his mouth like he wanted to ask her something but then he shut it again.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing. It’s just…you’re beautiful, is all.”

Her heart skipped a beat, because as he stared down at her, there was no denying that she was falling for him. Not only did he make her feel important and sexy, he also made her feel like she belonged, and he saw things in her no one else ever had. But when his vacation was over, and she wanted more, would he simply pack up and leave town?

Or would she be enough to keep an amazing guy like him around?

Sam was in so much fucking trouble it wasn’t even funny.

After spending the entire week detailing every room in depth with Alexis, and helping her revise her restoration plans and submit them to the committee, he knew he was getting in too deep. Which meant he needed to pull back and enjoy the physical aspects of their relationship only. She’d told him her priorities were changing, but he was sure she had no intention of staying in Whispering Cove. The last thing he wanted was to fall for the sweet yet sexy girl who could undoubtedly break his heart when she walked out of this town.

With Alexis out shopping with Tabby, he glanced at his watch and cut through the town square, needing to pick up his suit for tomorrow’s wedding. From the corner of his eye he spotted the Whispering Salon and raked his hands through his hair.

Deciding it was time for a cut, he hurried across the street. A bell overhead dinged as he entered the busy salon and was greeted with a big hug from Vic.

“Sam,” she said. “What brings you in here today?” She frowned, looked at his long hair and said, “Clearly you’ve been avoiding any establishment with a pair of scissors.”

He laughed and rubbed his scalp. “I think maybe it’s time for a trim.”

“Sit,” she said, pointing to her chair. “And if it’s okay with you, I’d like to do more than a trim.”

Sam dropped down into her cushiony chair, and before she put a cape over him, she said, “Nice shirt.”

In the mirror facing his chair, Sam took note of his T-shirt with the picture of the camel on it and the saying, “Happy Hump Day”. Okay, okay, so it was a bit juvenile—and it had holes—but it was worn and comfortable and in his profession he had no need to dress up. Besides, he had no one to impress.

Vic ran a comb through his disheveled hair, and all around him women chatted, or rather gossiped. He listened in, not at all opposed to hearing the latest news, but soon enough all eyes turned to him.

“So Sam, are you back for good?” Vic asked.

“Nope, I’m heading back to New Mexico at the first of next month.”

“Oh,” Hannah McGrath, Reece’s mother, piped in from the chair beside him. “Errol said you were back for good.”

Sam frowned. “Why would he say that?”

“I have no idea,” she said.

“He also said you were helping Lex renovate the place because you both planned to live there,” Errol’s better half, Delilah Kean, added.

Sam shook his head. “I think someone needs to cut off Errol’s rum supply.”

“So it’s not true? You’re not back for good?” Annette Wilson, Katy’s mother, asked from a few chairs over.

“No—”

“But you helped her design new plans for the house didn’t you?” Vic asked, as she met his glance in the mirror and made quick work of his hair.

“Yes, but—” he began, but was quickly cut off.

Mrs. McGrath pursed her lips. “I heard the restoration committee just approved them.”

Sam opened his mouth to try again. “Really? When—”

“Yeah, I was talking to your grandfather earlier, Sam,” Ms. Kean said. “He said the board sat today and approved Lex’s plans. He also said the house design had your signature all over it. They’ll be sending out her letter and permits next week.”

Braydon’s mother, Ruth Mitchell, nodded her head. “Your granddad is proud of your work.”

“But he hates that you ran off to New Mexico…after, well you know,” Ms. Kean said.

Mrs. Mitchell clapped her hands. “Lex is going to have the nicest house in Whispering Cove.”

Mrs. McGrath gave a slow shake of her head. “If she can ever get it done.”

“What do you mean?” Vic asked.

“Didn’t you hear?” Mrs. McGrath’s eyes went wide. “My son’s construction company is the only one in town that is a licensed preservation contractor, and he’s currently tied up, so without a qualified contractor overseeing the work, she won’t get it done for months.”

“Sam could do the work, though,” Ms. Kean said. “He’s qualified. Aren’t you, Sam?”

Mrs. Wilson nodded her head in agreement. “Maybe you should consider staying. I’d love to hire you to redo my house.”

“Come to think of it, mine needs an update too,” Mrs. Kean added.

Vic clipped away at his hair and said, “I know Tabby would love to have your insight in the early stages of designing a place.”

Conversation continued around him, and he opened his mouth numerous times, but couldn’t manage to get a word out. By the time Vic finished his hair and removed his cape his head was spinning, trying to sort through all the information that had come his way.

After he left the salon, he made his way across town. He picked up his suit from the tailors, then caught his reflection in the mirror outside Delmart’s department store. He frowned when he saw the holes in his old, worn T-shirt. Maybe it was time to pick up a few new dress shirts to go with the new haircut. He ducked inside and walked through the men’s department. As he strolled, trying to convince himself he was shopping for new clothes because everything he owned was old and ratty, he knew the real reason was Alexis and that he wanted to look nice for her.

After making a few purchases, he made his way back to the house, wondering if the salon’s gossip had reached her ears. When he walked in the door, he overhead Alexis on her phone in the kitchen, pleading with her bank to extend her loan. She was explaining that she’d run into a few roadblocks and was working hard to iron them out. As he listened, he knew she had no idea her plans had been approved.

He also knew he was going to do it.

Even though he’d walked away from the business and swore he’d never restore an old house for a woman who’d only end up leaving when all was said and done, he was damn well going to go against his own best interests, call in a few favors and personally oversee Alexis’s restoration project, even if it ended up being the death of him.

Chapter Six

As Sky and Leo exchanged vows in the town’s century-old church, a beautifully restored lighthouse, Lex couldn’t help but look at the man seated beside her. Stunning was the only word she could find to describe him. With his hair cut short, and a suit that fit his gorgeous body to perfection, Sam looked like he’d stepped straight out of
GQ
. But not only did he look different, he seemed different. Even though he was still easygoing and laid back, there was a new seriousness about him.

Needing something to do with her hands, she smoothed down the bodice of the dress she’d bought yesterday, having asked Tabby to take her shopping to pick out a few new dresses that she knew Sam would like. She’d paid a little more than she would have liked, considering she was flat broke, but Sam’s reaction when he saw her was well worth it.

After the wedding, they all attended the reception and as she sipped champagne and spoke to the women, she could feel Sam’s eyes on her. She met his glance from across the yard, and when warmth moved through her, she wondered how she’d ever be able to be with another man after him.